sjefSat, Sep 6, 2008 It depends on how you learn best, which you can only find out for yourself really.
I guess if you have a specific goal that requires the recognition of your knowledge by others through proof of a diploma, you are self-aware enough to know that you will thrive best in the competitive & challenging environment provided for example by a good art school, or if you simply need set goals / set assignments / ready-to-consume blocks of knowledge, then school (tertiary education) is for you.
If you are a generalist with broad interests, able to learn and adapt quickly, and willing to work to prove your worth in order displace the mistrust of your knowledge caused in many by lack of a classical qualification, then you may just be able to get along being self-taught.
Going the autodidact route allows you to indulge your interests as you see fit, but you have to contend with the fact that you may end up knowing just a little about a lot, if you can make this work, then fine.
I guess the most important part in making the decision is knowing what your goals are, if you intend to stay in the creative field as a freelancer your work is your worth and you can get along fine. Should you find yourself wanting to move into solid employment in the agency world though, you may find that the lack of a diploma has you running into a brick wall as far as getting a job goes. An excellent portfolio can compensate, but it won't be easy.
If you don't know what your goals are, then by all means don't make any decisions yet. Spend a few years learning more about how you learn & what you want to learn, you'll either figure it out or find yourself on a path to somewhere anyway. Just put in the work and don't stop learning.
It depends on how you learn best, which you can only find out for yourself really.
I guess if you have a specific goal that requires the recognition of your knowledge by others through proof of a diploma, you are self-aware enough to know that you will thrive best in the competitive & challenging environment provided for example by a good art school, or if you simply need set goals / set assignments / ready-to-consume blocks of knowledge, then school (tertiary education) is for you.
If you are a generalist with broad interests, able to learn and adapt quickly, and willing to work to prove your worth in order displace the mistrust of your knowledge caused in many by lack of a classical qualification, then you may just be able to get along being self-taught.
Going the autodidact route allows you to indulge your interests as you see fit, but you have to contend with the fact that you may end up knowing just a little about a lot, if you can make this work, then fine.
I guess the most important part in making the decision is knowing what your goals are, if you intend to stay in the creative field as a freelancer your work is your worth and you can get along fine. Should you find yourself wanting to move into solid employment in the agency world though, you may find that the lack of a diploma has you running into a brick wall as far as getting a job goes. An excellent portfolio can compensate, but it won't be easy.
If you don't know what your goals are, then by all means don't make any decisions yet. Spend a few years learning more about how you learn & what you want to learn, you'll either figure it out or find yourself on a path to somewhere anyway. Just put in the work and don't stop learning.